Chapter 54

SPEAR MASTER AND THE BLACK CAT CHAPTER 54

Fifty-Fourth Episode~ Expert Blacksmith from the Slave Market

For these past few days, I have stopped searching for the mirrors using the gate .

Continuing to live freely while taking requests, I go out for a walk .

Shuya Kagari enters a different world, a back street path .

I walk happily while feeling the refres.h.i.+ng winds and there is a reporter type of feeling .

I see the condition of the people who live in the city as I walk around .

A place was.h.i.+ng leather using a washboard and pail, laundry is being air dried or dried with life wind magic . There seems to be small jointly owned gardens . There is a person cultivating the ground while watering it with magic .

A small side door of a general store is opened and I peep inside . There is betting revolved around boxing in a barred in the area, bodice, a beautiful prost.i.tute with curly hair and a sleeveless jacket…

I walk through the downtown area of 【Fort City Hector】 with such a feeling .

The sewers are maintained and there are public restrooms available . There is no scene of s.h.i.+t being thrown into the street .

Yosh, this is enough for today, I will not walk much more .

Today is the day I will be receiving the armor I ordered .

I am going to Zaga & Bon’s shop once I get a little exercise .

I go ahead through the small alley to the residential area’s vacant square .

Pieces of cloth are spread out between the eaves overhanging the alley .

The ground is dark, and even though it has not rained the air is humid .

However, I do not hate it . I calm down slightly . This is because I hear the laughter and voices of people working under the cloth roofs .

An atmosphere peculiar to downtown .

While I am enjoying the calm, the vacant land spreads out in front of me .

There is a cloth roof before the small alley I pa.s.s through .

The vacant land that exists all alone .

I am not here for radio exercises; I am here to train . (TL: During the summer in j.a.pan elementary aged children go out to nearby parks in the area to do radio broadcasted exercises . They get a stamp for doing it and local shops may give them something small as a reward . )

“Rollo, I’m going to train, so you can play . ”

“Nya . ”

Rollo calls out lightheartedly and jumps down from my shoulder .

Like that, she walks along the wall of the residential area .

A few hours later-

Rollo does not return even after I have finished training .

Ara? She normally comes back immediately .

While whistling, I walk in the direction that Rollo disappeared .

At that time, the laughter of children comes from around the corner .

I head there .

Ah, there she is . Rollo is playing with children .

They seem to be racing .

Rollo lets the children catch her .

She licks the children with a *pero-pero* when caught .

The children and happily going *kya-kya-kya* and putting their faces in Rollo’s belly and going *fuu-fuu* in retaliation .

Haha, the children’s smiles are good . They seem happy playing .

It is unfortunate for the happily playing children, but I whistle to Rollo, letting her know I had come .

Rollo’s ears immediately stand up straight in response to the whistle .

She turns her small face to me and stops playing with the children, running back to me .

Rollo rubs her head against my leg and then climbs up my right arm before taking up her usual position .

The children gather too, tempted by Rollo .

“-Waa, your face is flat . Is that your cat onii-chan?”

“Ahaha, it’s good, riding on the shoulder~”

“-Me too, me too~”

“Onii-chan is tall~”

“Naa, onii-chan, let’s have a ‘throw’ match . ”

I introduce myself simply with a smile .

“That’s right . This cat is my Familiar, my pet . ”

“N, nya . ”

Rollo speaks too .

“Heh, ama~zing . She answered . ”

“N, is she saying yes or no?”

“Ryoryo, baka, ” (TL: Uh, I give up on the second part まほうのせいぶつとか、めしつかいのことだよ)[ED: WELL… . ]

“That’s right, Tatan is smart~”

“Heeeh, amazing onii-chan, are you popular?”

“That’s right . ”

I talk boastfully to the children .

“-Oooh . ”

“Amazing . ”

The children look at me in surprise and with eyes full of excitement .

Playing with kids like this is good, but I need to go to the Dwarf’s shop .

“…Well then, I have somewhere I need to be, so bye~”

“Eeh, don’t go . ”

“Bye~”

“Neko-chan, bye . ”

“What about the throwing game~?”

Although I wave a hand .

“Sorry . I have to go . ”

Saying so, I part from the children and head towards the shop of the dwarf brothers .

I hear the voices of the children behind me saying “Good-bye” in imitation .

Now then, I am excited about the armor I ordered .

What will it be like?

I walk through the alley with a grin .

On the way, I get lost but back track to the main street and somehow remember the way .

And then, I arrive at the dwarf brother’s shop .

“Encha? Enchant!”

“Nn, Nyao . ”

Bon meets us when we approach the store .

Rollo makes a rumbling sound when she sees Bonn and jumps from my shoulder .

She is running towards Bon .

Bon seems happy loudly exchanging words with Rollo .

“Haha, what a strange conversation . ”

Thereupon, Zaga appears from the shop .

“Oh, I was thinking Bon was being noisy and it’s Shuya? Mou, the armor is already made . Come in-“

“Yes . Rollo, I’m going inside . ”

“Nya . ”

“Enchant . ”

Rollo returns to my shoulder .

Bon comes along as well .

Entering the shop, I am led to a desk .

The new armor I ordered is placed there .

This is the armor that Zaga and Bon built for me .

It has a wonderful appearance .

Around the neck is a white soft looking collar that gives it a high-quality appearance .

There is a round pauldron attached to the right shoulder . From the right elbow to the shoulder section, is a cylindrical part made from the carapace .

This shoulder section is great .

There is no ruck sack, but I want to do a shoulder tackle .

It seems the chest part uses the octagonal piece of the armored commander ant’s carapace .

The bare minimum, it is made to only protect the heart .

Furthermore, there is a faint magic formation on the surface of the carapace, the image of a white spear is on the octagon .

Heh, this picture is good .

However, the enchantment section stands out .

It is the only part with high mana density .

A line of mana is joined to the surface creating a honeycomb pattern… I think this is the work of a tremendously skill enchanter .

I can tell even with the eye of an amateur .

The carapace is joined in several places with fur and metal .

The ta.s.sets around the waist are firmly made, it looks like I will be able to move my legs freely too . Twofold and threefold leather belts are attached to the side .

They come together to make a fluctuating small form .

This is carefully made, Amazing . As expected of craftsmen .

It fits without needing to tighten the side belts .

The surface is smooth too .

Blue leather . Aah, this is the hide from the tiger I had .

Even if I twist my waist, there is no discomfort .

It has a high affinity with the cuira.s.s made from sea dragon from the old days that makes it look good .

Pale black gloves were prepared so I try putting them on .

There is a hole in the left wrist .

They seem to have made a hole for the chain as I requested .

The wrist of the gloves has a leather worked pattern of flas.h.i.+ng lightning .

“How is it?”

“Thank you . I am completely satisfied .

“Is that so . Then it was worth making . Right? Bon . ”

“Enchant~”

Raising two fingers, it is slightly altered?

Pouting, my forehead creases .

Bon has a triumphant look .

“However, it really is wonderfully made . The design on the chest is good, what is the magic like thing on the back?”

“Bon’s enchantment . it seems to be a fused magic of divine light protection and physical protection . I do not understand the specifics, but I think it means your defense should increase . By the way, the spear design is my original . ”

So, it is Bon’s enchantment . Bon is a prodigy .

The picture is good too . These dwarf brothers are more than common blacksmiths .

“The design is good . I can tell that Bon’s enchantment is great . ”

“Maana . ”

“Enchant!”

“Bon seems happy as well . ”

“Yes . Ah, this is the cost in gold coins . Zaga and Bon, Thank you very much . ”

I hand over the gold coins .

“Ouyo . -Certainly . ”

“Enchant . ”

“Well then . At once, I am going to go exploring with this new armor . ”

“Gahaha, show it off, I’ll make you something again if you bring good materials . ”

“Yes . Then-“

“Nyao . ”

Enjoying the indescribable smell of new armor, I walk through the street with the big market along with Rollo .

The market has various stalls; people are milling about in confusion .

There is a shop specializing in fur and leather shoes, a stand selling cakes with roasted chestnuts, a shop selling clothes is next to a shop selling food .

At any rate, it is all disordered .

In addition, the shops that are here vary day to day, a compet.i.tive market place of a random nature .

This market, is kind of like the malls in Southeast Asian and Latin America…

If there is a shop selling ramen I will immediately go there .

Oh, skewers .

There are meat-skewers being sold in one of the stalls .

It seems to be the breast meat from a deer type monster .

With onion type vegetables and meat, the fragrant smell of meat juices is appetizing .

-It looks good . I buy some .

I buy a share for Rollo and myself .

While eating the meat skewers, amongst the crowd of various qualities of customers, I stroll indifferently .

When I walk out of such a market, I see a big long carriage stopped at the edge of the market .

N? That is an especially large carriage .

It feels like the carriage has been remodeled magically with metal and It looks like a coffin .

The slave market is in front of it, is it somehow related?

I move to the side of the peculiar carriage .

Next to it is a coat of arms with the design of a horse with one horn .

The unicorn is drawn in red, yellow and white .

Is it a family crest? Or maybe the logo of a company .

It stands out, the owner might be a special person…

When the back door of the carriage opens, a wooden ramp is lowered to the ground .

There comes a young man wearing clothes appropriate for a n.o.ble, and a long-haired elf with silvery hair wearing a black slave collar steps firmly down from the ramp .

Silver hair and pale skin?

N? She is wearing a silver mask over the left side of her face?

The n.o.ble-like man that I had identified as a slave trader has silver hair reaching his hem . Their hair is more appropriate for an elf than a human .

Furthermore, this is my first time seeing such pale skin on an elf .

I can tell she is a slave because of the black collar but unlike the other slaves her hands and feet are not restricted .

Continuing from behind are people of various races with black collars around their necks and shackles around their hands and feet linking them together .

The group lead by such a slave dealer heads to the corner with the slave market .

I am curious so I follow them .

That slave trader and pale elf, they seem to be putting the slaves up for auction .

They are being evaluated with sharp eyes .

Occasionally, he speaks to the silver haired elf for advice .

The other merchants seem to acknowledge the superiority of this slave dealer…

Everyone, while whispering, is turning cold eyes to the newly arrived slave dealer .

Some slave dealers back away to avoid him .

They split before the n.o.ble looking slave trader like the Red Sea before Moses, the streets become crowded .

Who is this slave dealer…

Men dressed in the same way see the slave trader with the appearance of a n.o.ble with his entourage of slaves and approach him .

What are they going to talk about?

I am extremely curious .

At that moment, I make eye contact with the beautiful pale elf .

Half of her face is covered with the silver guard, but I tell from her exposed pale skin that she has a beautiful face .

Mana is circulating in one eye that is a brilliant silver .

That pale elf…she seems to able to use magic observing eye .

I keep mana in my eyes as well and approach while straining my ears to hear .

“Keragan Kyaneras-sama from 【Oath of the One Horn】”

“Dodgness . 【Hector’s】 outdoor market is the same as always . The market surely is big but the shops are much too disorganized . ”

The slave dealer called Keragan Kyaneras talks while looking around the market with blue eyes .

“Yes, however, the market hear is treated considerably well in the taxation system, so it is convenient for slave traders . ”

“This crowd . I will be like that . ”

The slave trader called Dodgness is rubbing his hands together in a submissive att.i.tude, and turns sharp eyes to the silver haired elf behind Kyaneras .

“…Are you selling today? Buying?”

Dodgness speaks to Kyaneras in a wheedling voice .

“Selling today . N, are you worried about the eyes?”

“Eeh, yes . Possibly, is the person behind you an illusion?”

When Kyaneras hears him, he nods in satisfaction .

“That’s right . As expected, you noticed . This isn’t an ordinary elf, it’s a dark elf . Don’t you want me to sell you this slave? Now, the slaves behind me need to be sold as well . ”

“…I see, well then, would you like to bring the dark elf to the underground auction?”

Heh, that elf is a dark elf?

Her skin is pale instead of tanned .

Ah, our eyes met again .

This is good, right? Her body is wonderful .

However, I am interested in the conversation between the slave dealers so I disregard the eyes .

Kyaneras faces Dodgness with a triumphant look .

The corners of his mouth rise and he grins and arrogant smile .

“…Naturally . It cannot be seen it the market, you could say it is a value equal to a high elf . The price will jump considerably in the underground auction . ”

Kyaneras looks away from Dodgness and smiles at the dark elf .

When the dark elf notices his eyes she averts her gaze from me, and looks again at Kyaneras .

She lowers her heads and stays silent .

“Fumu . Dodgness . -How much would you buy such a thing for?”

Dodgness is upset by Kyaneras’ question but removes a parchment from his chest .

“Y, yes, wait a moment . ”

“Understood . It’s a mixture of good and bad, but the price is expected . ”

The slave dealer Dodgness is evaluating, so he extends the thin metal stick in his hand and begins to look over the slaves that are chained together .

He makes them stick out their tongues and open their nether regions, he keeps picking at their bodies with the thin stick .

When he finishes examining them, he smoothly writes on the paper with a pen and returns the Keragan Kyaneras .

“I’ll buy all of them . How about this?”

Kyaneras receives the parchment and looks at what is written, and his eyebrows twitch in response .

“…Hou . Didn’t you estimate them very high? …Dodgness . What is your request?”

“Eeh, isn’t it good? I also want to attend the underground auction . ”

Kyaneras nods a few times .

“Fumu, fumu…Dodgness’ qualifications are first cla.s.s?”

“Yes . Since last year . ”

“Since that’s the case, here…”

Kyaneras takes a pen and begins adding to the paper Dodgness wrote on .

“Na… I understand . ”

Dodgness is staring at the paper Kyaneras is writing on as greasy sweat begins to drip from him . Shaking himself with the feeling of it being inevitable he begins to write .

“…Can you take this out? It seems you want to attend very much . Yosh, the transaction is completed . Take this, with it you may enter my house . In the cold months of winter, come to my mansion in 【Pernette】 . The important auction is being held ninety days from the end of the year . You should come sooner than that . ”

Something is handed over .

“Yes . I will be there . Thank you very much . ”

“Well then, carry the gold coins to the carriage . You- (Slap)”

Kyaneras turns around and claps .

He gives simple instructions to the slaves he owns .

The slaves are directed by Kyaneras and walk to Dodgness who purchased them for a large sum .

It seems Kyaneras sold the slaves in his possession .

The slaves Dodgness bought become two lines .

After instructing the slaves, Kyaneras returns to the luxurious carriage with the dark elf .

When she returns, I think the dark elf may have looked at me for a second, but it must be my imagination .

This is my first time hearing a conversation between slave traders, it had a lot of information .

There is such a world .

At any rate, I am curious about the underground auction that came up several times .

Before she died, Kuna said she bought the item box from the underground auction, it was also written in her notes .

It seems to be held in Pernette…I have a slave trader’s certificate too, am I able to partic.i.p.ate?

While contemplating, I look at the sold slaves .

A strong looking man and woman are bought immediately .

“Onii-chan over there, are you buying?”

While I am looking at a slave, a trader calls out to me

“N? I’m not interested right now . Sorry . ”

“Is that so, there’s a broken-down adventurer soldier, but there’s also a beastman warrior who can take out a magic doll on his own . ”

There is a tiger faced macho man wearing a collar .

After staring at the state of the slaves for a little, I pa.s.s on .

If they are going to be usable they must be “beautiful” and a “woman”… [ED: Thinking with his d.i.c.k…]

Now then, let’s go .

I want to try using the spear while I wear the new armor . I guess I will train .

“Rollo, let’s go to the vacant area . ”

“Nnn . ”

Only purring, is it because Rollo ate the meat skewer, she crawls into the hood hanging down my back .

Rollo seems to be sleepy . Ma, I can still go to the vacant land while she is sleeping .

I head to the vacant area I found the other day .

I arrive . I make sure the surroundings are clear with presence detection .

-No one is there .

It is the place where the cat convention happened the other day .

The wide s.p.a.ce with nothing other than the big stump .

“Rollo, I’m going to train so you need to get up . ”

“N, Nyao . ”

Rollo moves from the hood to my shoulder .

She jumps to the ground, and after stretching out her forelegs with her chin up she runs to the stump .

While Rollo stares at me from the stump with her feet together like a doll, I begin training .

Running, swinging the spear, jumping, thrusting up .

I move my body vigorously to check the status of my new armor .

I can move the spear as smoothly as normal .

There is no sense of discomfort with the new armor . Then, I stop moving for a moment .

Tomorrow is finally the day of the Evil Dragon King extermination .

Starting from the basics- I begin to release consecutive normal thrusts .

In the middle, I add in .

-From – Thrusting, without leaving a s.p.a.ce, an ordinary lunge .

The delay before makes consecutive stabs possible .

Next is spear sparring-

Twisting, turning on my toes, I make full use of my foot work .

a.s.suming all of these, I perform connected attack training .

The I got from the 【Training Course】 is great .

Every time I practice the “Toe turn” evasive maneuver, it becomes sharper and my ability to dodge improves .

I also do training that makes use of the magic sword in my movements .

I move my arm in a slant with the sword, being aware on the meandering type .

I have outstanding stamina so I do not need to worry about getting tired .

I train the spear and sword in earnest without a particular goal and end up spending most of the day training .

◇◇◇◇

The next day, I head the square of the War G.o.d Vaisu where we are supposed to meet for the evil dragon king subjugation request .

The location is like a big park .

Rollo jumps from my shoulder and runs ahead .

Again, did you find something?

I quickly chase after Rollo .

I discover a place that seems like an entrance .

There is a statue of an old man dressed in a gown, indeed a statue that looks like a G.o.d wearing armor and with a sword in his hand is on either side of the entrance .

Rollo climbs onto on the statues and is aiming to climb onto the bald head .

“Ara, a cat . ” “It really is . ” “It’s awfully fast . ” “Hou . ” “To climb onto wise man Rabius…” “However, it’s pretty cute . ”

…She is attracting attention .

Adventurers are noticing Rollo .

The number of adventurers suddenly increases from here .

Everyone seems to be here for the same reason .

I call Rollo while feeling slightly embarra.s.sed .

“O-i, come back . ”

“Nya . ”

Rollo immediately returns to her spot on my shoulder .

“Rollo, behave yourself a little . We’re heading to the place where everyone is gathering now . ”

“Nyao . ”

I have such an exchange with Rollo .

“That cat is cute . ”

“I want a cat like that . ”

“Awfully obedient . A familiar?”

“I wonder? Let’s go . ”

With such a feeling, the black cat and I attract attention for a while .

Scratching my head while being embarra.s.sed by people looking, I follow the adventurers .

In the center of the open s.p.a.ce is a circular open air theater .

Heh, it has the feeling of a dramatic opera .

People that look like adventurers are gathering there, one after another .

-So, when I walk to the meeting place, I am called out .

“Shuya-“

The source of the voice, was Quiche with a translucent smile .

Quiche Bakunda .

The white and emerald green knight armor, I look at it, green greaves type .

Her seductive rocket b.r.e.a.s.t.s are concealed . (TL: I don’t…why author-sensei?)[ED: Kill me please . ]

Her perfectly aligned white teeth . After all, I am healed . (TL: I think he means from the fear Kuna caused him . I know you’ve all been worried, but Shuya’s p.e.n.i.s is ready to fight to!)

“…As I though, Quiche is also partic.i.p.ating in the subjugation . ”

“Nya . ”

“Aah, of course . Shuya has also brought Rollo, you have come here to partic.i.p.ate?”

“That’s the plan . ”

“Good . Shuya and Rollo are strong . This is rea.s.suring . ”

Rollo seems happy, she lifts one leg and claps my shoulder .

“Nyaa . ”

“Maa, I intend to fight . ”

“Aah, that’s right . I also will get reparation for the lives taken, my home, my family, those I buried . ”

Quiche’s eye become clear, colored with hatred .

“…Shuya will be partic.i.p.ating solo?”

“That’s right . ”

“Then, I am partic.i.p.ating solo as well . Let’s go to the meeting place together . The guild master of the adventurers and marquess-sama seem to have already arrived . In addition, there are members of this city’s knight order on the dais as well . ”

“Understood, let’s go . ”

I accompany Quiche to the circular venue .

Several hundred have already sat down and the place is nearly full .

It seems we are standing at the back of the procession .

It is noisy with the sounds of rustling and talking adventurers .

Looking at such a seated audience, every person looks strong and powerful . There are also many beastmen .

Oh, it’s Sarah . Crimson Tiger is partic.i.p.ating too .

Over there is a famous mixed adventurer clan of humans and beastmen . I think…they are the B rank 【Shaffer’s Battle-axe】 . Most of the members are combat slaves . On the other side is the similarly B ranked 【Crimson Tiger’s Tempest】 . The ones to them with the black and red robes are the B ranked 【Aria’s Wanderer】 . Oh, there are even more big shots . The magic user duo is the S ranked 【Ice Mausoleum of Blue Waters】 . ”

Quiche explains .

“Heh, you know a lot . ”

“I also have been an adventurer for several years, the adventurer clans I just brought up are not only here in 【Hector】, they are adventurer clans know in areas to the east . ”

“Is that so . I didn’t know . I’ll remember what you told me . ”

As for Quiche, does not know such a thing? (TL: Not sure, so I left this translation literal . ) Such a look is on my face .

Without minding it, now I look at all the famous adventurer clans that Quiche mentioned .

The leader of 【Shaffer’s Battle-axe】 is a giant hairy beastman .

There is a characteristic mark on the beastman’s chest .

He is covered head to foot in fur, only on his chest is there a black ring of burnt skin, the hair is gone .

All the members are slaves sold the other day, they have “collars,” is the scar burned into their chest proof of slavery…there is a female magic user to the side as well .

Only this women’s chest is unharmed .

This woman might be the master .

I cannot make out her face from this distance .

The faces of 【Crimson Tiger’s Tempest】 are as beautiful as ever .

Conversely, Butch-s.h.i.+ is the only one with a grim look and it creates a good balance .

【Ice Mausoleum of Blue Waters】 is sitting in the front seats .

As Quiche said, there are only two of them .

Going by their appearance, I think they are twins .

They look human, but they are awfully short and their fair skin stands out .

A magic user duo .

Then, I move my eyes to the platform .

Soldiers wearing black masks are standing guard on both sides of the platform .

The black mask wearing guards are built like pro wrestlers . They are carrying executioner’s axes in both hands, watching the audience attentively .

They have a guard like feeling .

At the center of the stage is a n.o.blewoman with her retainers, she must be the sponsor .

On her left is an old man dressed in a dark blue cloak and a female magic user .

N, -That is Eris .

Eris is at the left side . She is standing next the old man in the dark blue cloak .

The old man is not speaking to Eris and is instead talking to the n.o.ble woman on his right .

Standing as guards to protect the n.o.ble woman on both sides and behind her is an old soldier with grey hair and the lady’s beast maid who looks young .

Knight-like people in blue armor are sitting next to the n.o.bles as well .

However, that n.o.ble woman is having a long conversation with that old man…

Blond hair and blue eyes . Beautiful porcelain skin .

Her face looks like a doll’s and her nose ridge is long…

Possibly…no, that would be impossible . The n.o.ble woman is wearing a blank mantel edge with silver over a crimson velvet dress that hides the lines of her body .

The black mantel is reflecting the light because it is covered in jewels .

n.o.ble woman, old soldier, beastwoman…

I have seen that face somewhere before .

-Aah, I remember .